Acts 12

1About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church.2He killed f James the brother of John g with the sword,3and when he saw h that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during i the days of Unleavened Bread.4And when he had seized him, he put him j in prison, delivering him over to four k squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.5So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest l prayer for him was made to God by the church.

6Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, m bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison.7And behold, n an angel of the Lord o stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. p He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And q the chains fell off his hands.8And the angel said to him, "Dress yourself and r put on your sandals." And he did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me."9And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but s thought he was seeing a vision.10When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. t It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him.11When Peter u came to himself, he said, "Now I am sure that v the Lord has sent his angel and w rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting."

12When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of x John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and y were praying.13And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, z a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.14Recognizing Peter's voice, a in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate.15They said to her, "You are out of your mind." But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, "It is b his angel!"16But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.17But c motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Tell these things to d James and to e the brothers." 1 Then he departed and went to another place.

18Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.19And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and f ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.

20Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and g having persuaded Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for peace, because h their country depended on the king's country for food.21On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them.22And the people were shouting, "The voice of a god, and not of a man!"23Immediately i an angel of the Lord struck him down, because j he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.

24But k the word of God increased and multiplied.

25l And Barnabas and Saul returned from 2 Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them m John, whose other name was Mark.

Cross ReferencesMatthew 4:21
And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.
Matthew 20:23
He said to them, "You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.

Cross ReferencesHebrews 11:37
They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated -

Cross ReferencesActs 24:27
When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.
Acts 25:9
But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, "Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?

Cross ReferencesActs 20:6
But we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.
Exodus 12:14 - 15
This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord ; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.
Exodus 23:15
You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. As I commanded you, you shall eat unleavened bread for seven days at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. None shall appear before me empty-handed.

Cross ReferencesLuke 21:12
But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake.

Cross ReferencesJohn 19:23
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

Cross References2 Corinthians 1:11
You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
Ephesians 6:18
Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.

Cross ReferencesActs 21:33
Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done.

Cross ReferencesActs 8:26
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is a desert place.

Cross ReferencesLuke 2:9
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.
Luke 24:4
While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.

Cross References1 Kings 19:7
And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, "Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.

Cross ReferencesActs 16:26
And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened.

Cross ReferencesMark 6:9
But to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.

Cross ReferencesPsalms 126:1
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.

Cross ReferencesActs 5:19
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said.
Acts 16:26
And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened.

Cross ReferencesLuke 15:17
But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!

Cross ReferencesPsalms 34:7
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Psalms 91:11
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
Daniel 3:28
Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.
Daniel 6:22
My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.

Cross ReferencesPsalms 33:18 - 19
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love.
2 Corinthians 1:10
He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

Cross ReferencesActs 12:25
And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem w...
Acts 13:5
When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed t...
Acts 13:13
Now Paul and his companions set sail from Papho...
Acts 15:37
Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John call...
Acts 15:39
And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that t...
Colossians 4:10
Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and ...
2 Timothy 4:11
Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him w...
Philemon 1:24
And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, m...
1 Peter 5:13
She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, ...

Cross ReferencesActs 12:5
So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

Cross ReferencesJohn 18:16 - 17
But Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in.

Cross ReferencesLuke 24:41
And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?
Genesis 45:26
And they told him, "Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt." And his heart became numb, for he did not believe them.

Cross ReferencesMatthew 18:10
See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
Hebrews 1:14
Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

Cross ReferencesActs 13:16
So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: "Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen.
Acts 19:33
Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd.
Acts 21:40
And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying:

Cross ReferencesActs 15:13
After they finished speaking, James replied, "Brothers, listen to me.
Acts 21:18
On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.
Galatians 1:19
But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother.
Galatians 2:9
And when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
Galatians 2:12
For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.

Cross ReferencesJohn 21:23
So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?

Cross ReferencesActs 16:27
When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
Acts 27:42
The soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape.

Cross ReferencesMatthew 28:14
And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.

Cross References1 Kings 5:9
My servants shall bring it down to the sea from Lebanon, and I will make it into rafts to go by sea to the place you direct. And I will have them broken up there, and you shall receive it. And you shall meet my wishes by providing food for my household.
Ezra 3:7
So they gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the Sidonians and the Tyrians to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus king of Persia.
Ezekiel 27:17
Judah and the land of Israel traded with you; they exchanged for your merchandise wheat of Minnith, meal, honey, oil, and balm.

Cross References2 Samuel 24:16
And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was working destruction among the people, "It is enough; now stay your hand." And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
2 Kings 19:35
And that night the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.
Acts 8:26
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is a desert place.

Cross ReferencesPsalms 115:1
Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

Cross ReferencesActs 6:7
And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

Cross ReferencesActs 11:29 - 30
So the disciples determined, everyone according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.

Cross ReferencesActs 12:12
When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.